SA Special Editions

Technology that mimics photosynthesis converts carbon dioxide to fuels in a sustainable way

Technologies that pull moisture from the air are now solar-powered

The problem would likely plague every technological civilization throughout the universe, says astrophysicist Adam Frank

Scientists copy nature’s most complex organ in the hope of solving the mysteries of brain disorders, from autism to Alzheimer’s

Experimental techniques demonstrate how to strengthen memories when our brains are off-line

Aerial drones and chaos theory help researchers explore the many ways that microorganisms spread havoc around the world

Scientists are urgently transplanting, fertilizing and enhancing corals to help them adapt to warmer oceans, but rebuilding entire reefs will be daunting

The best early warnings of a big disaster may appear 180 miles above the ground, a controversial new theory says

Beef for dinner—without killing animals or the environment

By reprogramming DNA inside harmful microbes, biologists are turning them into patient-saving drugs

In the Galápagos, invasive species are driving native animals to extinction. Some conservationists are asking whether genetic manipulation is the solution

Synthetic biology offers unusual rewards and risks

Viruses found in contaminated water may protect against type 1 diabetes

The tale of a giant Amazon fish reveals the promise and peril of “invasivorism”

Could scientists one day use blood and skin cells to replace sperm and eggs?

Biofilms—3-D mats of bacteria—kill as many people as cancer does and fight off antibiotics. Now scientists are turning biofilms’ own weapons against them

Using engineered forms of the rabies virus, neuroscientists can map brain circuits with unprecedented precision

After false starts, researchers are making progress toward treating deafness with gene therapy

Trees can't walk to a better place as climate worsens. So scientists are relocating helpful genes instead

Nerve-stimulating therapies could soon replace drugs for many chronic conditions

Restoring natural water flows in cities can lessen the impacts of floods and droughts